Archive: 4 April – 10 April 2011

The Queen will acknowledge all traditions in Irish history during her historic visit to the Republic. Photograph: Jane Mingay/Daily Telegraph/PA

Bill Clinton displayed a deft touch in 1995 when he became the first US president to visit Northern Ireland since the start of the Troubles.

Political leaders from all sides swooned as a carefully orchestrated White House operation ensured that Clinton met each one of them in a way that made them all feel special.

Buckingham Palace has clearly paid attention to Clinton's ground breaking visit to Northern Ireland in the early years of the peace process as the Queen prepares to make history by becoming the first British monarch to visit the Irish Republic.

Andrew Lansley's NHS reforms were endorsed by David Cameron long before the election. Photograph: Martin Argles for the Guardian

It is not a pretty sight when a prime minister loses confidence in a cabinet minister.

In public the prime minister expresses support for the hapless minister. In private few are left in doubt that the minister has been placed on the naughty step or, in the case of Andrew Lansley, on the you-have-had-the-political-stuffing-knocked-out-of-you step.

Cameron thinks that Lansley is guilty of a spectacular failure of communication. The prime minister believes that a year ago Lansley was rightly lauded as a highly respected – and long serving – shadow health secretary devoted to the NHS.